Aromatherapy is the practice of using naturally extracted aromatic essences, or essential oils, from woods, leaves, herbs, flowers, fruits, and spices to balance and promote physical and psychological well-being by stimulating the body’s natural healing capabilities.
The use of essential oils for bathing, beauty and medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years among Egyptian, Arabian and Asian cultures. However, René-Maurice Gattefossé, a French Chemist, is considered to be the father of aromatherapy, as he is believed to have invented the word with his 1937 book Aromathérapie.
Essential oils are commonly inhaled through the air by placing drops in steaming water, diffusers or humidifiers, but can also be used as topical ointments in bathwater or rubbed on the skin in weaker strengths using a carrier oil. Massage therapists often combine aromatherapy to enhance treatment.
Research suggests that aromatherapy can be an effective therapy to:
- Decrease pain
- Reduce stress
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce depression
- Reduce nausea and vomiting
- Reduce symptoms associated with menopause and menstruation
- Decrease congestion
- Improve sleep quality
- Enhanced mood
- Increased relaxation
- Improved wellbeing and quality of life
Some essential oils have also been found to have antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, and are therefore effective in treating wounds, burns, nail fungus, warts, acne, psoriasis, candida, colds, and flus, as well as other viral and bacterial infections.
Below you will find some of our frequently asked questions about aromatherapy. If your question is not answered, please feel free to contact us!
Aromatherapy is often used through inhalation or as a topical application.
Inhalation: the oils evaporate into the air employing a diffuser instrumentation, spray, or oil droplets, or breathed in, parenthetically, in an exceedingly steam tub.
Apart from providing a pleasing smell, aromatherapy oils will give metabolic process medical care, medication, and psychological edges.
Essential oils ar made of flower, herb, and tree components, like bark, roots, peels, and petals. The cells that provides a plant its odoriferous smell are its “essence.” once associate essence is extracted from a plant, it becomes a necessary oil.
It takes plenty of plant material to form essential oils. over two hundred pounds of lavender flowers ar wont to create simply one pound of lavender volatile oil.
Not all product created with plant essence ar essential oils. True essential oils aren’t merging with different chemicals or fragrances. They’re created employing a specific method that doesn’t amendment the chemistry of the plant.
Lemon, chamomile, lavender, cedarwood, and orange are a couple of of the essential oils used often in aromatherapy.
For some conditions, research shows that aromatherapy can have many health benefits. Some of these benefits may include:
- Ease stress, anxiety, and depression
- Boost feelings of relaxation
- Improve sleep
- Help improve quality of life for people with long-term health problems like dementia
- Ease certain types of pain, including pain from kidney stones and osteoarthritis of the knee
- Fight bacteria when you put them on your skin
- Ease some of the side effects of cancer treatment, like nausea and pain
Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils are generally thought to be safe. However, some essential oils can be poisonous, and should not be ingested. It is recommended that essential oils be diluted to 5 % to avoid adverse effects. Nonetheless, adverse effects have been reported, such as skin irritation, rash, hives, headache and nausea. Also, essential oils extracted from citrus can cause increased sensitivity to ultraviolet light causing sunburn. Essential oils should also be avoided on areas with skin cancer or sensitivity to radiation therapy, and individuals with eczema or psoriasis should consult a health practitioner prior to use.
Individuals with epilepsy, heart disease or lung disease should consult a health practitioner prior to inhaling essential oils, as essential oils may affect the efficacy of prescribed medications, and some patients have reported impaired breathing following inhalation.
There are no specific regulations governing aromatherapy or aromatherapists. However, certification is offered by several accredited schools, and approved by the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists (CFA). To obtain the designation of a Certified Aromatherapy Health Professional (CAHP) from the CFA, students must participate in 450 hours of classroom time and successfully complete exams in anatomy, physiology, essential oils and aromatherapy practice. Certified aromatherapists should have their certificate clearly displayed.
